But the first day, Lulu, on coming home from school, went to Violet with a strong protest against being taught by him.
"Mamma Vi," she said, "the girls in his class say he has a dreadful, dreadful temper, gets angry and abusive when they make the slightest mistake, and sometimes strikes them with a whalebone pointer he always has in his hand; that is, he snaps it on their fingers, and it hurts terribly.

I shouldn't mind the pain so much; but it would just make me furious to be disgraced by a blow from anybody, especially a man--unless it were papa, who would have a right, of course," she added, with a vivid blush.

"So, Mamma Vi, please save me from having him for my teacher." Violet looked much perplexed and disturbed.

"Lulu, dear, it doesn't rest with me to decide the matter, you know," she said, in a soothing, sympathetic tone; "if it did, I should at once say you need not.

But I will speak to grandpa and mamma about it." "Well, Mamma Vi, if I must try it, won't you tell him beforehand that he is never to strike me?
If he does, I'll not be able to restrain myself and I'll strike him back; I just know I shall.